Ornamental display device



Sept. 2, 1952 J, JOY 2,608,779

ORNAMENTAL DISPLAY DEVICE V Filed May 11, 1948 I 2 SHEETS*SHEET 1 IZZY/622202: Joaepiz J'TJay Patented Sept. 2, 1952 I -RNAMENTAL DISPLAY DEVICE Joseph F. Joy, Pittsburgh, Pat, assignoi to .163

Manufacturing Company, Pittsburgh, 2a., a

corporation'ofPennsylvania 1 Application Mayll, 1948, Serial No. 26,322

This invention 'relates' to an ornamental" display device for use wh'ereveran ornamental display of animated.brillian'cy is desired and more particularly to an electrical display sign for advertising purposes; l I

The invention has'plural' aspectsandirom one aspect, relates to an ornamental display of animated brilliancy which is colorful, attractive and spectacular. From another aspect,- the invention relatesto an electrical advertising display which may embody 'a slowly revolving globe or sphere simulating the world as it would appear turning on its: own axis and-having an internal-source' ef illumination and internalmechanismtor rotating The-sphere may have j'ewellike win-- the same. dow's or transparent ie'nses whien-may assume the form of faceted elements ofglass or translucent plastic material through which light may pass to provide a; spectacular display of colored light rayspand an advertising slogan; consisting of a band with lettering, may extend around the equatorial line of the sphere and have out out or translucent letters to permit the passage of light therethrough for easy reading as the sphere slowly'revolves on its axis; While revolving illuminated displays are generally well known, the present invention contemplates improvements over known devices" in that it emltnodies novel structural features and arrangements, resulting not only ina spectacular display and improved appearanceand extreme compactness but also simplifying manufacture and facilitating assembly and dismantling of the parts." Q

An object of this invention is'to provide an ornamental display having novel features of construction. Another objectisto provide an improved ornamental display device of animated brilliancy which is colorful, attractive and spectacular. A further object is to provide an improved ornamental display device for advertising purposes. Yet another object is to provide an improved ornamental display device embodying a revolving globe simulating the world" and having an internal source of illumination andprovided with numerous j'e'wellikewindows' or transparent lenses which may be faceted and of different colors so-as to permit thelight to pas'sthere through so that-the jewellike lenses'refiect the light as the globe revolves; to provide constantly scintillating rays of lightto create a vivid, dazzli'ng. animated efEct.'-*A further object isto provide an improved advertising-displaydevice comprising a revolving globe simulatingthe worldand having an internal-source of illumination and provided witha display signorslo'gan eir- 11 Claims. (01. 4047) tending around the equatorial: line of the globe and having cut outcr translucent letters through which light passes so that as the globe revolv es the signor slogan may be easily read. Still another object is to providean improved globua lar display sign having novel, extremely compact mechanism arrangedwithin the globe ior slowly revolving the latter, about an upright ,;a-xis.-j, A

still further objectis tovprovide a revolving dis-p play sphere constructed in aynovel manner and. having an improved bearing ,mounting;v Yet another object isto provideanovel mounting for the light source within the globe.- A still further object is to provide, improvedcooling rneans for the internally illuminated jsphere; These and other objects of theinvention will, howeven-hereinafter more iully'ap'pear. .1 q 1 J V In the accompanyingdi'a-wings there are shown for purposes of illustration one form and-a modification which the invention may assume in practice.

In these drawings:

Fig. 1 is aside elevational'view of a displayde? vice constructed in accordance with one illustra tive embo'dimentof the invention; r

Fig. 2 is a top plan viewof" a ,displayidevice shown in Fig. 1. I

Fig. 3'is an enlarged eentral vertical"sectidnal view, with partsshown-in full, taken throughthe' display device shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

Fig.- 4 is a horizontal sectional View taken sub' stantially on line 4:;4i of=Figz 3, 'Wlth the light bulbs removed.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fraginentary sectional view taken on the'pla-ne" of: Fig; 3, showing details or construction;

Fig. 6 is aside with a filling StauQnLgaseIme-pump.-

In the illustrative embodiment of the invent on shown Figs; 1 t0 5 inclusive;tll-lfnpi'oved'dis play device is gerieraily designated l" aud'g enerai- 1y comprises a'revolvingglobe oiflsphersi simulating the world a'ndm-ei'i'nted to tiirnahoiit an upright on a base el The"gloloe' (51 *sphere contains an internal ource of iuumifiaueri was" I elevationa'l new illustrating a modification, with the display deviceassociated are" peri ratesiby may be formed with facets for reflecting the light rays passing through the Windows or lenses. The lenses may be of plastic or glass or other transparent substance, and may be all of the same color or of different colors, as desired. If desired, the openings 9 and lenses 9' may be omitted and the globe sections may be composed of transparent material such as translucent plastic.

The base 3 is preferably of generally circular form and has feet l8, preferably of rubber or like resilient material, and is formed with a centrally located upstanding tubular pedestal or shaftlike element II which is surrounded by and supports a ball thrust bearing l2. The lower globe section 1 has, at its bottom, a cuplike portion I3 provid-' ing a circular recess 14 for receiving the thrust bearing, with the latter so arrangedthat it centers the globe on the base, receives the weight of the globe, and provides a bearing mounting therefor. The upper portion of the tubular element H is threaded at [5 and has threadedly secured thereto a support 16 which carries a motor H. The motor is preferably an electric motor and is arranged in a vertical position on the support, with its axis preferably coincident with the axis of rotation of the globe. The motor has a casing l8 which has attached to its upper end a transverse gear housing [9 which may be sealed to contain a suitable lubricant. Fixed to the upper end of the motor shaft 20 is a spur pinion 2| meshing at its opposite sides with large spur gears 22, herein preferably journaled on vertical bolts 23 which serve to secure the gear housing to the motor casing. Herein formed integral with the gears 22 aresmall spur gears 24 which mesh with the opposite sides of a large spur gear 25 preferably journaled on an elongation 26 of the motor shaft. Integral with the gear 25 is a small spur gear 21 meshing at its opposite sides with large spur gears 28, herein likewise journaled on the bolts 23. Integral with the gears 28 are small spur gears 29 meshing with the opposite sides of a large spur gear 38 secured to a vertical shaft 3! extending upwardly axially through and journaled on an upright tubular support or column 32. Thus a large speed reduction is provided between the motor shaft and the shaft 3! so that the latter may rotate relativelyslowly. The tubular support or column 32 has a flanged base portion 33 secured, as by screws, to the top of the gear housing 19. As shown in Fig. 3, secured as by a set screw 34 to the upper end of the shaft 3| is an upright driving and supporting element 35 herein resting on the flanged upper end 36 of the tubular support 32. The element 35 has a flanged upper end 31 on which the upper globe section 8 rests, and a thumb screw 38, having a knurled handle, is threaded within the upper portion of the element 35 for firmly and detachably securing the upper globe section in position thereon.

The gear housing I9 has integral brackets 39 at the sides thereof carrying conventional sockets 40 for electric light bulbs 4i which provide the source of illumination within the globe. A conductor wire 42 having a usual connector plug 43 leads into the base, and the base carries a switch 44 for turning the power off and on. The wiring leads up through the base and through the tubular element l l to the wiring connections 45 of the motor. Wires 46 also lead from the wiring to the light bulb socket contacts in a usual manner. When the plug 43' is connected to a suitable source of electricity and the switch 44 is on, the globe is internally illuminated and is slowly rotated by the motor IT, as hereinafter described.

Secured at 41 to the enlarged base portion 48 of the driving element 35 and supported by the tubular support 32 are armlike brackets 49 having downwardly bent outer end portions 50 secured at 5| as by screws to the lower globe section. The brackets 49 provide radial driving arms for the globe. Theadjacent edges of the globe sections have annular: lips 52, and the annular strip'or band 8 is located intermediate the globe sections and cooperates with the latter in completing the sphere. The lips 52 serve to retain the band in position between the globe sections. The band extends around the equatorial line of the sphere in the transverse zone of the light bulbs to attain effective lighting and may have cut out or translucent letters 54 providing a sign or-slogan for advertising purposes, and the light may pass through the letter cut-outs or the translucent lettering to enable easy reading of the sign or slogan as the globe slowly revolves. If desired, the band may be of suitable translucent material with solid lettering, in an obvious manner.

By removing the thumb screw 38, the upper globe section 6 may be readily lifted from the support 38 away from the lower globe section I to enable removal or replacement of the sign or slogan and to attain access to the internal mechanism of the display.

Cooling air is circulated through the globe to carry away heat generated by the light bulbs, and the bottom of the lower globe section 1 has air inlet openings 55 while the top of the upper globe section 6 has air outlet openings-56. Preferably clamped between the upper surface of the cupshaped portion 13 and the lowerend of the sup port 16 is an inverted metal shade 51 overlying the openings 55 to impede the passage of light therethrough while permitting free air flow. Secured to the bottom of the-flanged upper end 31 of the element 35 is a metal shade 58 underlying the openings 56 for likewise impeding the passage of light therethrough while permitting air flow. Thus the cooling air may circulate freely by convection through the openings 55 upwardly through the interior of the globe and outwardly through the top openings 56.

In the modification shown in Fig. 6, the improved display device is associated with a filling station gasoline pump 60. In this construction, the base 3 of the embodiment above described is omitted and an upstanding portion 6| at the top of the pump casing 62 provides the bottom support of the device. The revolving globe structure, its internal driving mechanism and the internal source of illumination are the same as those above described. Evidently, the display device may be associated with other forms of apparatus wherever a brilliant animated display is desired. a a I i As a result of this invention, an improved ornamental display device of animated brilliance is provided which is colorful, attractive and spectacular, quickly attracting the attention of an observer. It will further be evident that an improved advertising display device is provided which, due to its revolving illuminated parts with jewel-like lenses, readily attracts attention by its colorful scintillating light rays. By arranging the source ofillumination and the driving mechanism for rotating the globe internally of the globe so that the latter provides a housing therefor, compactness and improved appearance are attained. By the provision of the sphere constructed in the manner disclosed. assembly and dismantling of the'device is facilitated and the advertising band may be readily insertedand replaced. As aresult of the novel structural 61,3".

ments of the display device, manufacture is Sim} plified and cost is maintained at a These and other advantages of the invention will:

tion of the same are shownfor purposes of illustration and that the invention maybe further modified and embodied in various other forms without departing from its spirit or the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim as new and desire to secure as Letters Patent is:

1. In a display device, a base, arevolving globe comprising a partial upper globe section, a' partial lower globe section and a band intermediate said sections and cooperating therewith to complete the globe, means for mounting said globe for rotation about an upright axis on said base, said mounting means including a central support carried by said base, armlike brackets secured to said central support and secured at their outer ends to said lower globe section and an upper support portion between said central support and said upper globe section, said brackets and said upper support portion supporting said globe sections with their adjacent edges in fixed spaced apart relation, and said band supported entirely by said globe sections between said spaced adjacent edges, and means for detachably securing said upper globe section to said upper support portion whereby said upper globe section may be raised to move said spaced edges further apart to permit removal of said band.

2. In a display device, a base, a pedestal mounted on said base and supporting a bearing, a spaced bearing, supporting means for said second bearing including a motor casing supported by said pedestal and a member carried by said motor casing and supporting said second bearing, a housing rotatably supported by said bearings, and means within said rotatable housing for driving the latter including a rotating motor element within said motor casing and reduction gearing having a terminal gear element coaxial with said bearings and a vertical shaft driven by said gear element and connected to said rotatable housing.

3. In a display device, a base, a pedestal mounted on said base, a motor having a casing and supported by said pedestal with its axis in alignment with the axis of said pedestal, a pinion driven by said motor, a gear casing fixed to said motor casing, a column fixed to the upper side of said gear casing, bearings respectively supported by said column and between the ends of said pedestal, a globe supported by said bearings and enclosing Within it said gear casing and motor, a gear fixed in coaxial relation with said pedestal to said globe and gearing journaled in said gear casing for transmitting drive from said pinion to said gear.

4. In an illuminated display device, a base, an

internally illuminated sphere, means for mounting said sphere on said base for rotation about sphere, said mounting means including a tubular support arranged within said sphere in axial alignment with the axis of sphere rotation, and

motor driven .rneans supported by said base and arrang'ed within"said"sphere for rotating the lat ter, saidlinotor'drivenmeans including an upright drive shaft arranged Coaxial with' and rotatably mounted withinsaidv tubular support," the upper ri'ght axis including a tubular supportl'axially' aligned withuthe axis of sphere rotationand lateral. supports engaging said tubular support and connected'to. said lower sphere part, motor driven means supported by said base and arranged withinsaid'sphereffor rotating the latter, said motor driven mean'sincluding an upright drive shaft arranged coaxial with and supported within said tubular support and connected't'oj said lateral supports forrbtating the latter relative to said tubular supportlsaid shaft supporting said upper sphere I part, and a ,releasable connection between said drive shaft and said upper sphere part. j ,6. In" an illuminated display device, a base, a hollowspheremountedon said base for rotation about an upright axis and having translucent portions through which light rays are adapted to pass, a source of illumination within said sphere, and motor driven means for rotating said sphere including an upright drive shaft arranged within said sphere with its axis in the same straight line with the axis of sphere rotation, mounted means supported by said base and arranged within said sphere and by which said shaft is rotatably supported, the upper end of said shaft projecting upwardly and terminating above said mounting means, and an operative driving connection between the upper portion of said upright shaft and said sphere also arranged within the latter.

7. In an illuminated display device, a base, a hollow sphere mounted on said base for rotation about an upright axis and having translucent Z portions through which light rays are adapted to pass, said sphere comprising separable upper and lower portions which are separable toprovide access to the interior of said sphere, a source of illumination within said sphere, motor driven means for rotating said sphere including an axial upright drive shaft arranged within said sphere, mounting means supported by said base and arranged within said sphere and by which said shaft is rotatably supported, a lateral driving connection between said shaft and said lower sphere portion, and a releasable driving connection between the upper portion of said shaft and said upper sphere portion whereby said upper sphere portion may be detached without disturbing the relation of said lower sphere portion with respect to said lateral driving connection.

8. A' device of the character set forth in claim '7 wherein said mounting means includes a tubular support surrounding said shaft and said driving means for said sphere includes a part for supporting said upper sphere portion and rotatably supported by said tubular support, said rotatably supported part being detachably secured to said shaft.

9. In a display device, a base, a revolving globe comprising partial upper and lower globe sections and an intermediate band cooperating with said sections to complete the globe, means tor mounting said globe on. said base for rotation about an upright axis including supports arranged within said globe for supporting said upper and lower globe sections with their adjacent edges spaced apart, and means provided at said adjacent edges of said globe sections and spaced apart a greater distance than the width ofsaid band whereby the latter may be loosely received and supported between said globe sections, said globe sections when assembled on' said supporting means providing the sole support for said band, and means fordriving elements of said mounting means to effect rotation of said assembled globe.

10. A display device of the. character set forth in claim 9 wherein said mounting means includes an upright rotatable axial support arranged within said globe and having connection with said upper globe section and driven by said driving means, and lateral supporting elements secured to said axial support and'secured at their outer ends to said lower globe section.

11. In a device of the character disclosed, a motor driven globe rotating abouta substantially upright axis, said globe comprising an incomplete top hemispherical portion, an incomplete bottom hemispherical portion and a removable slogan-bearing band arranged between said por-, tions and cooperating therewith to complete the by said band maybe inserted therebetween or removed therefrom.

' JOSEPH F. JOY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are 6r record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 935,236 Saunders Sept. 28, 1909 1,014,958 Edison Jan. 16, 1912 1,621,344 Addleburg et a1. Mar. 15, 1927 1,740,845 Tilbe Dec. 24, 1929 1,759,789 Howard May 20, 1930 1,975,592 Solodar Oct. 2, 1934 2,102,550 Treesh Dec. 14, 193'? FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 342,532 Great Britain Feb. 5, 1931 

